Quicker passports

The Consular Department says it has resumed issuing passports at a much quicker rate. This occurred after the passport database server was linked to issuing branches around the country.

Foreign Ministry deputy permanent secretary Nuttavudh Photisaro said linking the database to the branches allowed passport issuance to be sped up. He said that when the server was down officials had to key data in manually, which meant services were delayed and limited. Each office would now be able to issue more passports each day.

The Songkhla branch, which resumed issuing passports yesterday, reported that it had reached its 400-passort capacity before the branch opened. A temporary branch in Surat Thani provided services to 150 people yesterday.